>Box jump: Use a six- to 12-inch box. Do three sets of 30-second intervals, with a one-minute rest between sets.

POWER SURGE

Myth: It's bad to continue building strength and power after the ski season starts.

"People used to think you should build all your strength in the off-season, then during the year you just had to maintain it and perform," says Stone, who served 11 years as a U.S. Ski Team physician. "But recently we've seen a lot of younger athletes getting better and better during the season-not only because of their experience but also because they're getting stronger." That doesn't mean anything goes, however. To avoid injury, spend a lot of time stretching and be careful not to overtrain.